Exercising apparatus



Feb. 28, i967 M. GAUL 3,306,611

EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed April 27, 1964 Fl r mmh

3,306,611 Patented Feb. 28, 1967 3,306,611 EXERCISING APPARATUS Martin Gaul, 1524 Bathurst St., Toronto, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 362,767 6 Claims. (Cl. 272-81) This invention relates to exercising apparatus of the type designed to permit the exercising of various specific areas of the body at will.

Various different machines are available which are capable of providing exercises for one or other specific areas of the body and which are generally speaking, of only limited scope and adjustability. Examples of such machines are, for example, cycling exercisei machines, neck traction devices and the like. More complex apparatus has been proposed for providing exercising of various different areas of the body at will but has` suffered from a variety of defects. An example of one such machine is United States Letters Patent No. 1,752,- 412, H. Blickman issued April 1, 1930, for Exercising Apparatus. The machine there described is a typical example of the more complex type of exercising apparatus providing a variety of different optional exercising which can be performed using the same machine.

Various disadvantages are apparent in such apparatus. When adjusting for an upward pull or lifting motion performed, by, for example, the arms or the legs, of the user, only a relatively short travel is required for the handle or harness which is grasped by the user, usually at or close to floor level. On the other hand, when a downward pulling exercise is performed, a very much greater travel is required and the fulcrum of operation is usually at or above head height, necessitating an entirely different adjustment of the moving parts of the machine. In both such types of exercise, however, it is usually necessary in such machines that the same loading device, commonly a series of weights, be employed in either case, for reasons of economy. It is therefore necessary to provide some form of interchangeable linkage between the handle or harness and the weights to permit either a longer or shorter linkage between them. Failure to provide such an adjustable linkage severly restricts the number of different exercises that can be performed on the same apparatus. On the other hand, such prior art apparatus as has incorporated an adjustable type of linkage has been both cumbersome and unwieldly in use and otherwise disadvantageous for a variety of reasons.

Accordingly, it is a general objective of the invention to provide exercising apparatus which is readily and quickly adaptable to permit its use for a wide variety of different exercises, specifically designed for various different areas of the body and to permit such interchangeability in a simple and speedy manner which is both cheap to make and reliable in use.

Other and more particular advantages will become apparent from the following description of a preferred em` bodiment with reference to the following drawings in which like references refer to like parts thereof throughout the various views and diagrams and in which:

FIGURE l is a side elevation of the exercising apparatus according to the invention showing various different exercising points with the apparatus arranged for exercising on a downward pull and with alternative exercising apparatus set up in phantom form;

FIGURE 2 is a section along the line II-II of FIG- URE l sho-wing the details of the adjustable linkage, and

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation, partially cut away, of an alternative embodiment.

It will be seen that the instant exercising apparatus consists essentially of a base 10, a vertical frame member 11 and a frame bracing member 12 which is arched to meet member 11 at a point above the average height of the user and both of which are attached their free ends to base 10.

Vertical member 11 and bracing member 12 are provided with a series of alternative attachment points designated 13a, 13b, 13C and 13d. Each of these attachment points is adjustable by means of a thumb screw 14 to permit re-location in the most advantageous point. Each of attachment devices 13a, 13b, 13C and 13d consist essentially of a collar making a sliding t aroundl post 11 and in the case of attachment device 13a, being provided with a hook member 15 for attachment of one form of exercising fitting 16` thereto. Attachment device 13b is provided with welded bracket portions 17 for attachment on the cantilever arm 18 thereto. Attachment device 13e is provided with a pivot 19 thereon to which may optionally be attached the swinging arm structure 20 for further alternative types of exercises. These attachment devices are merely exemplary of what may be employed in any particular case and illustrate the adaptability of the apparatus.

Telescopically adjustable strut 21 may be provided with support of cantilever arm 18 and bracket 22 is provided at the foot of vertical support 11 for reception thereof.

At the upper end of cantilever arm 18 pulley 23 is rotatably mounted and cord or wire 24 having the handle structure 25 at the free end thereof is passed around pulley 23 and downwardly around storage drum 26, on which several coils are formed prior to its attachment thereto as described below.

Storage drum 26 is itself attached to plate 27 by means of pin 28 passing through holes 29 therein for rotation in unison therewith. `Cord or cable 30 is attached to plate 27 and extends therefrom substantially horizontally around pulley 31 supported on frame 12 by means of brackets 32 and extends upwardly alongside frame 12 and passes around pulley 33 supported thereon by bracket 34 adjustably fastened by screw 35 and downwardly to stirrup 36 welded to sliding collar 37 litting slidably around sup-port frame 12.

Collar 37 is provided with two (or more) upwardly angled cantilever rods 38 onto which weights 39 having the conventional -central holes (not shown) therein can be placed to provide an adjustable load.

In order to provide the range o-f adjustment required for this apparatus, drum 26 and plate 27 are moveable relative to one another and the precise construction is shown in FIGURE 2. Plate 26 is journalled to rotate freely about axle pin 40 fastened between plate member 41 and frame 11 attached to base 10 and, to frame 11 as shown. Plate 27 is of substantially the same diameter as drum 26, in this preferred embodiment, and as already noted is provided with a series of holes 29. Holes 29 are so located as to be selectively registrable with moveable pin 28 carried by drum 26, and when pin 28 is in position in one of holes 29 drum 26 and plate 27 will be forced to rotate in unison. When it is desired to shorten cord or cable 24 to provide for a different type of exercise then pin 28 is withdrawn from hole 29 and the surplus cord or cable may be manually wound on to drum 26 by simply rotating drum 26 by hand, until the desired length of cord or cable 24 is obtained. Pin 28 can then be pushed back into the nearest hole 29 thus locking drum 26 and plate 27 together once more. Pin 42 is provided in one of plates 41 and is located as to be registrable with any one of holes 29. Pin 42 may be inserted into one of holes 29 to provide a locking mechanism therefore.

In operation, the user of the apparatus shown in FIG- URE 1 may simply grasp handle 25 and pull downwardly thus causing drum 26 to rotate in a clockwise direction. Such rotation will carry with it plate 27 which will thus cause collar 37 and weights 39 supported thereon to move upwardly on support frame 12. Releasing of handle will obviously permit the reverse movement.

If, for example, a leg exercise is required, then alternative apparatus as shown and indicated by the reference 20 may be attached to pivit point 19 on attachment device 13c. In this case handle 25 may be removed from cord or cable 24 and the same may then be re-wound onto drum 26 as described above. When a sufficiently short length is remaining the end thereof may be attached to any suitable point on apparatus 20 and pin 23 may again be inserted into the appropriate hole 29 on plate 27. The user can then exercise as before merely by operating apparatus 20 in any desired manner, upward swinging thereof producing clockwise movement and downward swinging producing anti-clockwise movement.

An alternative form of adjustable loading device is shown in FIGURE 3 and comprises the same drum 26 and plate assembly 27. However, plate 27 in this embodiment is provided with gear wheel 43 fastened thereto for rotation in unison therewith meshing with arcuate rack gear 44 fastened to arm 45. Arm 45 extends through plate 41 and is bent at a right-angle to enable weights 39 to be slipped onto the same to permit variation of the loading and locked thereon by collar 46. The ratio of gear wheel 43, to rack gear 44 should preferably be chosen to permit about one complete rotation of drum 26 to produce rather less than a quarter turn of arm 45.

It will be observed that with the use of either the embodiment of FIGURE 1 or FIGURE 3 various exercises can be performed by altering the attachment and/or location of one or other accessories to permit leg, or arm exercises either of a pulling or pushing nature, and also to enable exercise of the back, torso and neck muscle in various ways. In some cases it may be necessary to use an exercise bench (not shown) to permit employment of all possible variations of the apparatus.

It will be noted that a very wide variety of adjustments of the length of cord or cable 24 can be provided by this means thus permitting the use of the same apparatus for a large number of different exercises for different parts of the body, and for different sizes of users, by the use o-f one or two standard alternative attachments 18 and 20.

The foregoing is a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention which is given by way of example only. The invention is not to be taken as limited to any of the specific features described and comprehends all such changes as come within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Body exercising apparatus and comprising: a support frame; a plurality of attachment devices adjustably mounted on said frame; at least one body exercising device removably supported by said attachment devices; a exible cable attachable to said exercising device by one end thereof; a cable storage drum rotatably mounted on said support frame and having the other end of said exible cable attached thereto an adjustment plate rotatably mounted on said support frame in side by side relation with said storage drum; a plurality of holes formed in said drum and said plate and adjustable to register with one another; pin means selectively movable into one said hole in said drum and another said hole in said plate interlocking the same in a selected one of a plurality of positions relative to one another for rotation in unison; weight support means movably mounted on said frame for movement between upper and lower positions; and, linkage means extending between said plate and said weight support means for transmitting rotation of said plate in one direction with an upward movement of said support means and transmitting rotation of said plate in the other direction to permit a downward movement of said support means.

2. Body exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a cantilever arm exercising device removably attachable to one of said attachment devices in an upwardly angled orientation', and, a strut member extending between said cantilever arm and said frame.

3. Body exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including an exercising device swingably mounted on one of said attachment devices.

4. Body exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including a sliding collar located on said weight support means and extending therefrom for supporting said weight means thereon.

5. Body exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said weight support means including a weight support arm swingably mounted on said frame and a free end on said arm permitting weights to be removably placed thereon.

6. Body exercising apparatus as claimed in claim 1, including cable means having one end attached to said plate member and extending around the periphery thereof, and having the other end thereof attached to said weight support means; and, pulley means attached to said frame guiding said cable means between said plate member and said weight support means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,306,231 12/1942 Smith et al 254-184 2,855,199 10/1958 Noland et al. 272-81 FOREIGN PATENTS 524,962 5/1956 Canada.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

W. R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. BODY EXERCISING APPARATUS AND COMPRISING: A SUPPORT FRAME; A PLURALITY OF ATTACHMENT DEVICES ADJUSTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; AT LEAST ONE BODY EXERCISING DEVICE REMOVABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID ATTACHMENT DEVICES; A FLEXIBLE CABLE ATTACHABLE TO SAID EXERCISING DEVICE BY ONE END THEREOF; A CABLE STORAGE DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FRAME AND HAVING THE OTHER END OF SAID FLEXIBLE CALBE ATTACHED THERETO AN ADJUSTMENT PLATE ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT FRAME IN SIDE BY SIDE RELATION WITH SAID STORAGE DRUM; A PLURALITY OF HOLES FORMED IN SAID DRUM AND SAID PLATE AND ADJUSTABLE TO REGISTER WITH ONE ANOTHER; PIN MEANS SELECTIVELY MOVABLE INTO ONE SAID HOLE IN SAID DRUM AND ANOTHER SAID HOLE IN SAID PLATE INTERLOCKING THE SAME IN A SELECTED ONE OF A PLURALITY OF POSITIONS RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER FOR ROTATION IN UNISON; WEIGHT SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN UPPER AND LOWER POSITIONS; AND, LINKAGE MEANS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID PLATE AND SAID WEIGHT SUPPORT MEANS FOR TRANSMITTING ROTATION OF SAID PLATE IN ONE DIRECTION WITH AN UPWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND TRANSMITTING ROTATION OF SAID PLATE IN THE OTHER DIRECTION TO PERMIT A DOWNWARD MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS. 